Some Russian Embassies and Consulates have their own pages, on which you will find application forms, details of the visa application process and current visa fees applicable for your country and citizenship (they are different, yes !!!).

The visa process in the United States is the following (for other countries the process is similar, please inquire at the Russian Consulate serving your area). The following documents must be submitted:

• A completed visa application form (called form Nr 95). The form Nr. 95 can be obtained from the Consulate General website or can be downloaded here: US version or a UK version. The form can be Xerox-copied. Fax-copied forms, however, are not accepted.
• Valid national passport (original). It must be valid not less than one month after the date of departure from Russia. Holders of travel documents other than passports (Permit to Re-Enter the United States of America, Refugee Travel Document, etc.) must apply in person. The passport must be valid not less than 6 months after the date of departure from Russia. Please make sure there is empty space in your passport to put another visa.
• One recent passport size picture (approx. size 3x4 cm) with your name written on the back. Pictures can be black-and-white or color, preferably on mat paper.
• Letter of invitation If you request a tourist visa invitation from us (for stays upto 1 month max) a letter of invitation and a voucher will be sent to you. If you apply for a business visa, an official invitation from the Interior Ministry will be sent to you.
• HIV Test (AIDS) Certificate An HIV test is required for all type of student visa, you must present a recent (less than a three months old) AIDS-certificate stating that you are HIV negative. Such certificates can be obtained at your local hospital/doctor.
• To apply for a visa by mail you must attach a return self-addressed stamped envelope or a prepaid air-bill of an overnight mail delivery company you choose to have the visa sent back to you.
• A check made payable to the "Russian Consulate General" by money order, cashier's check or company check. Please do not pay by cash or by personal checks. The following fees apply for the US (as of October 2005):

  Processing time	Single-Entry	Double-Entry	Multiple-Entry
  6 business days	$100	$100	$100
  3 business days	$150	$200	$300
  Next business day	$200	$250	$350
  Same day	$300	$350	$450

  The same day processing applies only to the applications which are delivered to the Consulate General before 11 a.m. and picked-up at 12.30 p.m. Please note that the same day issued visa will be valid not earlier than in three working days from the date of issue. If one applies by mail, one extra day is added to the visa processing time. Visa processing fees are not refundable.
  After your visa is received please check all items on your visa as there are frequently errors. If you discover any mistake return it immediately to the Consulate for correction. If you would like to extent the visa, the easiest way is to get a new invitation and submit it with the visa to the Russian Consulate. Please note that visas cannot be extended in Russia.

  Please note that certain Consulates (UK, US, Austria, Switzerland) require to mail the original invitation letters for long-term stays (more than 4 weeks) from Russia directly. For all other invitations, a fax or printed copy of the scanned invitation letter and voucher will be sufficient.

  Citizens of the following countries: Israel, Finland and Shengen Countries (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal and France) must also present a medical insurance certificate valid for Russia or a guarantee of medical coverage from the Russian hosting organization for the intended period of stay. All other citizens must state on their visa application forms that they have valid medical coverage (from their own medical insurance), however no proof must be submitted.

  In order to get a TRANSIT visa you should first get a visa of the state of destination and submit it to the Consulate General along with papers mentioned above. A transit visa Ukraine, Belorussia and Russia is normally valid for 72 hours only. Members of cruiseships are not required to have a visa in the port of St.Petersburg.
  

Important visa information

If you apply for a Russian tourist visa in China, you will need to contact the Chinese Embassy in Beijing. The visa section is opened for visitors from Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. till 12:00 p.m. only. Visa documents are accepted until 11:45 a.m. only. You must pay $2 or 20 RMB as a consular fee, which is non-refundable. Official processing time is 5 business days, which means that you need to plan at least a week to obtain the visa from the Consulate. The Consulate fee is USD 50 for most nationalities, and needs to be paid in cash when you apply. Apparently, the Russian Consulates in Beijing (and Mongolia) require now the original of the invitation even for tourist visas, or even refuse visas to non-Chinese cities at all. All other Consulates require copies only. We strongly suggest not to apply for the Russia visa in China at this point.

Be prepared that at most Russian Consulates there are long queues in summer. For other practical information on obtaining the Russian visa at various Consulates, please visit Ruths Russia visa pages.